Mayor Bob Huber nominated Scott Santino who was his Campaign Chair during the Mayoral campaign. The Mayor introduced Santino, discussing his background as a businessman and long time contributor to the community through various community organizations. Scott Santino’s appointment was not unanimous, with votes of opposition from Councilman Glen Becerra and Councilman Steve Sojka. No official word from either on why they voted no, but I suspect members of the press will chase them down for questions and publish something official later in the week.

There has been a lot of speculation from insiders during the past several weeks regarding Santino’s appointment to the Planning Commission. It’s widely believed that Santino intends to run for City Council in two years. Two years of service on the Planning Commission can be beneficial for a hopeful candidate for City Council. Councilwoman Barbra Williamson served on the Planning Commission before being elected to the Council, and former candidate Keith Mashburn was also a Planning Commissioner when he threw his hat in the ring last summer. Being a business owner and Planning Commissioner looks favorable on a ballot, not to mention the added benefit of two years of name recognition and experience in City business.

Though just a rumor at this point, the next election cycle could be just as interesting as the last if Scott Santino runs. He would likely draw the same support from the POA. I plan to stock up on blood pressure medication!

One can only assume where that money will go! More local television ads? More newspaper ads? More mailers? More robo-calls? Election day is just days away and it looks like Bob Huber is planning an expensive few days leading up to the vote!

This is fascinating to me to say the very least. Only a couple of years ago, campaign finance reform was discussed as an important topic leading up to future elections. Who cares about campaign finance reform when you have the means to toss $42K into your own campaign coffers?

Watch out, Sojka! Huber’s richer than you!

I was out walking the other night and I came across the writer/singer of that song, Kyle Quiroz. We talked for a few minutes and he told me Youtube contacted him because they are now promoting his video. That basically means it is at the top of the search results for Simi Valley on Youtube and they are paying him. At around 4,000 views it isn’t much but I am proud that my blog helped launch the most viral campaign video in Ventura County Campaign history. I am more impressed that Youtube is now sharing ad revenue with Kyle.

What a fun bit of good news to be able to talk about during an election that has quickly become sour. I’m pleased for Kyle and congratulate him for a job well done. Kyle should be commended for not only answering Brian’s challenge, but for also putting himself out there to show his support for the community. He shows true character and I hope to have an opportunity to work with him in the future.

Here is Kyle’s video:

Like clockwork, at 4:30 a.m. a man removed the signs—including ones for council incumbent Glen Becerra—putting them in the back of his pickup truck.

When Arabian confronted the man, he discovered he wasn’t a thief, but a property maintenance worker, clad in a McDonald’s shirt.

Though permission to post the signs had been granted, this worker was apparently just unaware.

It’s the nature of the crime that prompts a stakeout by the Simi Valley Police. The dollar amount of the damage combined with the identifiable pattern of the crime offers an investigator an opportunity to solve it. The signs were apparently expensive and enough were stolen to qualify this as a felony.

Santino said it’s been frustrating to see sign after sign taken down. At $65 a piece, it easily adds up to felony theft, which requires $400 or more in damages.

“We knew we were going to lose signs, but the frequency and the vast amount has just been a huge surprise,” he said. “In my opinion, some of our signs have been systematically removed because they don’t want our message out there.”

Though Santino didn’t say it, Huber’s supporters have insinuated that Sojka’s camp is behind the thefts. Sojka, who has also had dozens of signs removed, said that is “totally out of line and unfair.”

Naturally, the question I asked when I first heard this story was were they expecting to find a Steve Sojka supporter creeping around at night stealing their signs? I may never get a straight answer to that question. I can tell you that a few evenings ago, a Huber supporter was discussing his stolen signs on Facebook and is suggesting that his opponent’s supporters are the perpetrators.

And just when you think it can’t get any uglier, the phrase “inappropriate use of resources”  is heard. The Acorn article goes on to discuss the fact that an outspoken Huber for Mayor supporter volunteered to conduct the stakeout, and that his salary range and overtime pay resulted in a relatively expensive night.

Read the article at the Simi Valley Acorn by clicking here.

Was the stakeout a success? That may be a matter of perspective. The signs will likely stop disappearing now that the truth is revealed. No one pressed charges. And if you were hoping a Sojka supporter would be caught and arrested, then this was a stakeout gone awry.

As an added note, I also think City Manager Mike Sedell shows good judgment by choosing not to investigate this until after the election. While it’s easy to draw the conclusion of a conflict since the detective who chose to conduct the stakeout is a known Huber supporter, Sedell opts not to make it into an election issue. I appreciate that he can make that decision despite being a frequent target of criticism by Huber supporters.

The detailed release is as follows:

Mayoral candidate blasts state’s ability to maintain the Ronald Reagan Freeway to Ronald Reagan’s standards

SIMI VALLEY – Simi Valley City Councilman and Mayoral candidate Steve Sojka today announced an ambitious public-private partnership proposal for beautification of the Ronald Regan Freeway (118) over the next 12 to 18 months. The program will have minimal direct cost to Simi Valley taxpayers, and will result in landscaping and other improvements along the freeway corridor including its on- and off-ramps.

Councilman Sojka will present details to the Simi Valley City Council at its meeting on Sept. 20, and ask for the Council’s support to direct staff to develop a comprehensive plan to bring back for Council approval.

“My vision is to create a scenic green corridor along the entire Simi Valley portion of the 118 Freeway by developing a collaboration of public and private partnerships that will enhance the aesthetics and improve the image and quality of life for all of Simi Valley,” Councilman Sojka said. “These improvements could be funded through Community Development Agency funds, Adopt-A-Highway proceeds and volunteer projects by Community Service Organizations with minimal cost to Simi Valley residents. My goal is to complete this ambitious project for the immediate beautification of the 118 freeway.”

Steve Sojka is Simi Valley’s representative to the Ventura County Transportation Commission. With VCTC, Sojka has worked in collaborative efforts to bring much-needed traffic and transportation corridor improvements to his hometown of Simi Valley.

These improvements include the 118 Freeway widening, the Madera Road-West City entrance improvements, the Erringer Road bicycle lanes-landscaping project between Royal Avenue and Fitzgerald Road, and the brand new Bus Facility CNG fueling station.

Councilman Sojka recently met with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and City officials to develop Sojka’s plan to beautify the 118 freeway through landscaping and maintenance with public-private partnerships.

Steve Sojka has been a Simi Valley City Councilmember since 1998, twice served as Mayor Pro Tem, and is currently running for Mayor. For information about Steve Sojka for Mayor, visit www.sojkaformayor.com or www.facebook.com/sojkaformayor.

According to the article on the Sojka for Mayor website:

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District has received an $802,000 Proposition 84 grant for upgrades to the Arroyo Simi Greenway, officials announced Wednesday.

The district will use the grant to pay for the first phase of improvements — a cooperative effort that involves the district, city of Simi Valley and Ventura County Watershed Protection District.

The upgrades will include 2 miles of new paved trails, 17 new trail entries and installation of signs, benches, bicycle racks and educational exhibits.

The grant from the California Natural Resources Agency was announced at a news conference on the Arroyo Simi attended by park district, city, county and state officials.

I have spoken to Steve Sojka about the importance of Quality of Life issues in Simi Valley, discussing things like the Arroyo and freeway landscaping. With critical issues facing Simi Valley, he believes it’s important to share news about significant milestones like these in addition to other efforts, such as meeting with the surrounding business owners regarding the Farmers Insurance departure. As the Chair of the Arroyo Simi Greenway Improvement committee, Sojka is delighted with this accomplishment.

“The arroyo can truly become a valuable quality-of-life amenity for our current residents and well into the future for our kids and the next generation.”

The nice thing about this project is that it doesn’t burden the city’s finances. The funds for this project come from a grant specifically designed for public agencies to revamp their river waterways.

The grant from the California Natural Resources Agency was announced at a news conference on the Arroyo Simi attended by park district, city, county and state officials.

“We’re ecstatic about it,” said park district General Manager Larry Peterson. “This is a very big thing for us. I think it’s probably the largest competitive grant our agency has ever received in its 49 years.”

Peterson said that in addition to the grant, the park district and Simi Valley have each committed $100,000 toward the first phase of upgrades.

“It’s going to be a beautiful trail that will serve a lot of needs,” he said. “Phase 1 will be the next great step in this process.”

Meet Simi Valley’s next mayor, get a complimentary haircut at Nioxin Hair and Scalp Spa at Simi Valley Town Center in unique meet-the-candidate event

SIMI VALLEY – Join Simi Valley Councilman and Mayoral candidate Steve Sojka at Nioxin Hair and Scalp Spa at Simi Valley Town Center on Tuesday, Sept. 14, and enjoy a free haircut with a donation to the “Steve Sojka for Mayor” campaign.

Take advantage of this unique meet-the-candidate event to sit down and chat with Steve about our wonderful community, while either waiting your turn or even while receiving your complimentary haircut.

“This is such a different type of event for a campaign, and I am honored that a local business has asked to host it for me,” Steve Sojka said. “I look forward to meeting with Simi Valley residents and doing something I enjoy best, which is conversations about our community.”

Steve Sojka will be at the Nioxin Hair and Scalp Spa from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 14.

Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.

Nioxin Hair and Scalp Spa can be reached at (805) 306-1549. For information about Steve Sojka for Mayor, visit www.sojkaformayor.com or www.facebook.com/sojkaformayor.

Contacts: Steve Sojka, (805) 660-7695; Sarah Newcomer, Nioxin Hair and Scalp Spa, (805) 306-1549.

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Enjoy…

Eric David Halub, former candidate for Simi Valley Mayor, presented a series of thoughts seemingly strung together on the fly. Among those thoughts was the notion that Council Salary/Benefits have been kept secret from the commuity. Council Member Sojka and candidate for Mayor responded during Council comments: